Kamuzu Barracks Football Club moved one point off the top four of the TNM Super League as Zeliat Nkhoma’s close-range strike was enough to see off Red Lions 1-0 at Civo Stadium.
The Alick Chirwa’s men had won just once of their opening four league games of the season and are yet to hit top gear ahead of Lilongwe derby against Blue Eagles next weekend.
Expecting the visitors to sit deep, Kamuzu Barracks coach Chirwa deployed Nkhoma, Kelvin Hanganda, Alexander Cosmas and Chimwemwe Chisambi in attack, and it quickly paid off as Nkhoma broke the deadlock in the fifth minute.
Matias Nyirenda started the move before Cosmas crossed to Nkhoma in the six yard, and the former Master Security striker fired it home to give his side a 1-0 lead.
Hanganda missed a superb chance to make it 2-0 in the 15th minute as Nyirenda played a brilliant pass over the top to him, but he guided his effort over the bar.
Nyirenda missed an even better chance on 33rd minute as Chisambi flashed a ball on the D-Zone, but the midfielder failed to hit the target as his shot went wide.
Kamuzu Barracks continued to press for a second goal and they nearly got it on 38th minute when Red Lions goalie Nenani Juwaya brilliantly saved Gilbert Nkhokwe’s powerful shot inside the box before denying Hanganda’s effort on the rebound.
Red Lions who failed to create anything of note in the first half were a changed side in the second half when their coach Mike Kumanga introduced Prince Saka for Andrew Biyo at half time and they registered first attempt on 48th minute through James Mwetse who sent his shot from free kick direct to goalkeeper Leyman Nthala.
Two minutes later, Davie Major had another attempt as Nthala produced another save to his long-range thunderbolt.
Kamuzu Barracks made two changes on 59th minute when Thoko Harrison and Levison Maganizo were introduced for Chimwemwe Chisamba and Matias Nyirenda respectively, but Red Lions continued to pile pressure on the Chiwoko Soldiers.
Nthala was at it again on 65th minute when he flew to the far corner to catch Prince Saka’s header.
Both sides made changes on 69th minute as the vistors brought in Alfred Sapanga and Willard John for Ferguson Mtondo and Zikhole Ngulube while Kamuzu Barracks substituted Kelvin Hanganda for Deus Mkutu and it was KB who benefited from the substitutions as they took over the control of the match for the remaining 20 minutes.
Mkutu could have registered his goal eight minutes after his introduction but his bicycle kick connection inside the box nearly missed the target.
The Reds had their last chance of the match when unmarked Alfred Sapanga headed wide a Willard John cross inside the six yard box.
The victory has lifted Kamuzu Barracks to fifth position from 13th while Red Lions remains 15th with four points.
Coach for Red Lions Mike Kumanga believes the win was due to hard working spirit from his players.
“Today am very happy, my boys have worked very hard and they deserved the victory” said Kumanga.
His counterpart Alick Chirwa said “we played very well but we failed to utilize chances but we will go back and work on our weaknesses before next week’s game”.
